      |    I entered the University of Puget Sound focused on my career goals as a pre-med biology major and chemistry minor. Golf was simply something that I loved, and Division III athletics at Puget Sound allowed me to continue developing my game as a student-athlete. I was also determined to form friendships with students besides my Hawaiian friends; being involved in athletics helped me accomplish this goal. Reflecting on the past three seasons, academics and golf have collided at inopportune times, like when the NCAA Championships and final exams were during the same week and when the MCAT was on the first day of the 2005 Northwest Conference (NWC) Championship. Deciding which was more important, however, was never a challenge. My team, my coach, and I made academic success our top priority. The support of the athletic department and my professors enables me to continue pursuing a career in medicine and still have great athletic success. Something that always stuck with me was my high school’s emphasis and belief in the “One Team” spirit to encourage unselfish team dynamics and show that the support of each spectator contributes to a team’s success. Going into college, I did not expect to see the “One Team” spirit again, but Puget Sound has shown me the same unselfish, supportive atmosphere. Every time I messed up during a tournament or had to miss a day of class, my classmates and professors still encouraged me to succeed and were continually impressed by my involvement as a student-athlete. As I finish my senior year, I find myself not wanting to leave UPS. I have learned so much and formed great relationships unique to my experience at Puget Sound. I still can’t believe how well our team chemistry developed over the past few years. In such an individual sport, it is difficult to find a group of women who will simply connect with each other on so many levels and become great friends along the way. I can’t imagine a better place to have incredible academic and athletic success than at Puget Sound. Once a Logger, always a Logger!! |         |
